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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy don't Democrats and liberals revere Dwight Eisenhower?
I've been learning a lot of about Dwight Eisenhower, particularly his presidency, and I don't understand why Democrats and liberals don't claim him as one of their own? Yes I know he was a Republican but that was in a different era and it's not unusual for parties to claim past figures as one of them. Lincoln is revered by Democrats and not really seen as a modern Republican. So why not Dwight? Republicans largely ignore him these days, so why don't we look to him as an inspiration? Sure he wasn't 100% aligned with every aspect of modern liberalism. He was president almost 70 years ago. But he did push for increased civil rights. He was a strong proponent of the UN. He warned against the dangers of the military industrial complex. He was a key figure in the defeat of fascism. He was tough as shit, which I think modern Democrats could use a bit more of. He is a giant in American history and his legacy is there for the taking. Why don't liberals seize the opportunity?
Trueblue Texan
(2,447 posts)Dr. Jack
(675 posts)Claim his legacy and then build up Democrats as the modern party of Ike.
rockfordfile
(8,708 posts)LakeArenal
(28,858 posts)I have many to revere in my own party.
My boss a Republican, never respected any employee, always refusing raises as what have you done for me lately?
So I say to Republicans, sure ancient history had some better republicans. But what have they done for me lately?
Mister Ed
(5,945 posts)marybourg
(12,642 posts)to him put up in D.C. as a counterpoint to Dems campaigning successfully for a FDR monument.
We have plenty of our own labor, civil rights and human rights heroes. We dont need to adopt publican military figures because they were tough.
RussellCattle
(1,535 posts)...."the boy from Kansas", with less emphasis on the presidency. Certainly no mention of his warning about the "military-industrial complex" from our Republican friends.
marybourg
(12,642 posts)RussellCattle
(1,535 posts)....emphasis on the left side of the monument which illustrates the war time general.
marybourg
(12,642 posts)I dont know what your point really is, or even what the point if the O P is.
RussellCattle
(1,535 posts)....absolutist take on all "publicans" and left it alone. Your comment about videos makes me wonder if you did the google search I suggested.
SlogginThroughIt
(1,977 posts)RussellCattle
(1,535 posts)demosincebirth
(12,544 posts)As a Republican. He said that was the biggest mistake he made. Take this for what its worth.
Arkansas Granny
(31,535 posts)He was not like Republicans today.
MiniMe
(21,721 posts)I don't think Nixon would be a republican in today's republican's either.
roamer65
(36,747 posts)brush
(53,925 posts)The following are straight from the Repulican Party Platform of 1956:
Provide federal assistance to low-income communities
Protect Social Security
Provide asylum for refugees
Extend minimum wage
Improve unemployment benefit system so it covers more people
Strengthen labor laws so workers can more easily join a union
Assure equal pay for equal work regardless of sex
Ike would be a centrist Dem today, maybe even center left.
RussellCattle
(1,535 posts)....quoting from Eisenhower or the Republican platform back in the fifties. This to illustrate how far astray their opponent and his party has gone.
crickets
(25,987 posts)Zambero
(8,974 posts)Of course the "Checkers Speech" won the day for Tricky. Ike could smell a rat a mile away.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)the scourge of Ike's Administration. Nixon created the Poison that continues in today's modern Politics. Joe McCarty and his Witch Hunt was not stamped out by Ike and that has left to this day,a sour spot with the Dem's.
DavidDvorkin
(19,497 posts)That doesn't help his memory.
Shrike47
(6,913 posts)DemocratSinceBirth
(99,716 posts)He consolidated the gains of the New Deal, sent federal troops to integrate Little Rock High School, and built the interstate highway system.
Top ten president.
MineralMan
(146,338 posts)I'm 75 years old. I remember Ike. In 1960, as a 15-year-old small town kid, I campaigned for JFK. That's ancient history now, too.
Ike was OK, in his own time. That time is not relevant to today, though. Nothing is anything like it was in the 1950s. We have work to do, and looking backward is not how we will do it, to be quite frank.
crickets
(25,987 posts)As with many presidents, and people in general, he made his fair share of mistakes. He is the only Republican president of recent memory for whom I have any real regard. For many of the reasons you and others cite, and especially for his farewell speech, I hold him in a place of genuine respect overall.
Paladin
(28,277 posts)I've felt that to be the case, for years.
WhiteTara
(29,728 posts)into the world, calling it nukes for peace. He's famous for saying we should watch out for the military-industrial complex. During his years, the famous 3 martini lunch was the norm and sloppy contractors built our facilities.
Also, he wasn't exciting.
Sneederbunk
(14,314 posts)The list goes on and on.
BootinUp
(47,201 posts)Klaralven
(7,510 posts)His coattails only brought in a Republican Congress for two years, and he worked with a Democratic House and Senate for six.
grobertj
(187 posts)If he ran today, he'd be described as a liberal.